A fig for Momus Containing Pleasant varietie, included in Satyres, Eclogues, and Epistles, by T. L. [i.e. Thomas Lodge] |
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To Master E. Dig.
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 | A fig for Momus |  |
To Master E. Dig.
Satyre. 1.
Digbie whence comes it that the world begins,To winke at follies, and to sooth vp sinnes?
Can other reason be alleadgd then this,
The world sooths sinne, because it sinfull is?
The man that liues by bribes, and vsurie,
Winkes (like a foxe) at lothsome letcherie;
Craft giues ambition leaue to lay his plot,
And crosse his friend, because he soundes him not:
All men are willing with the world to haulte,
But no man takes delight to knowe his faulte.
He is a gallant fit to serue my Lord
Which clawes, and sooths him vp, at euerie word;
That cries, when his lame poesie he heares,
T'is rare (my Lord) t'will passe the nicest eares:
This makes Anphidius welcome to good cheere;
And spend his Master fortie poundes a yeere,
And keepe his plaise-mouth'd wife in welts & guardes:
And therefore Humfrey holdes this Paradox;
T'is better be a foole then be a fox;
For folly is rewarded and respected,
Where subtiltie, is hated and reiected:
Selfe-will doth frowne, when honest zeale reproues,
To heare good counsell errour neuer loues.
Tell pursie Rollus, (lusking in his bed)
That humors, by excessiue ease are bred,
That sloth corrupts, and choakes the vitall sprights,
And kils the memorie, and hurts the lights:
He will not sticke (after a cup of sacke)
To flout his counseller behind his backe.
For with a world of mischiefes, and offence
Vnbridled will, rebelles against the sence,
And thinketh it no little preiudice,
To be reprooued though by good aduice:
For wicked men repine their sinnes to heare,
And folly flings, if counsaile tuch him neare.
Tell Sextus wife (whose shoes are vnder-layd)
Her gate is girlish, and her foote is splayd;
Sheele raile with open mouth as Martiall dooth:
Put if you praise her (though you speake not sooth)
You shall be welcome both to bed, and bord;
And vse her selfe, her husband and his sword.
Heele pawne himselfe, to buy thee bread, and beere:
But tuch me Quintus with his stincking breath,
The dastard will defie thee to the death:
Thus, though mens great deformities be knowne,
They greeue to heare, and take them for their owne:
Find me a niggard that doth want the shift,
To call his cursed auarice good thrift?
A rakehell, (sworne to prodigalitie)
That dares not terme it liberalitie?
A letcher, that hath lost both flesh and fame,
That holds not letcherie a pleasant game?
And why? because they cloake their shame by this,
And will not see the horror what it is.
And cunning sinne being clad in Vertues shape
Flies much reproofe, and many scornes doth scape.
Last day I chaunst (in crossing of the streete)
With Diffilus the Inkeeper to meete,
He wore a silken night-cap on his head,
And lookt as if he had beene lately dead:
I askt him how he far'd, not well (quoth he)
An ague this two months hath troubled me;
I let him passe: and laught to heare his skuce:
For I knew well, he had the poxe by Luce:
And wore his night-cappe ribbind at the eares,
But had a stranger, chanst to spie him than
He might haue deemd him for a ciuill man.
Thus with the world, the world dissembles still,
And to their owne confusions follow ill;
Houlding it true felicitie to flie,
Not from the sinne, but from the seeing eie.
Then in this world who winks at each estate
Hath found the meanes to make him fortunate:
To colour hate with kindnes, to defraud
In priuate, those in publique we applaud:
To keepe this rule, kaw me and I kaw thee;
To play the Saints, whereas we diuels bee.
What ere men doe, let them not reprehend:
For cunning knaues, will cunning knaues defend.
Truth is pursew'd by hate, then is he wise
That to the world, his worldly wit applies:
What is he wise? I as Amphestus strong,
That burnt his face, because his beard was long.
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